Looks like you’re next visit will be to Greenville, SC based on your answers to our city quiz
Welcome to Greenville – G’Vegas, #yeahTHATgreenville, and at one point, the Textile Capital of the World. Grace + Ana here, the editors of GVLtoday + we’re so excited to show you around. Before we get started on the tour, here are a few Greenville facts:
○ Greenville was *actually* called Pleasantburg until 1831 + is now named after Nathaniel Greene, one of George Washington’s best generals in the Revolutionary War.
○ Now, Greenville’s a pretty unique city + it’s not hard to understand why – Greenville + the surrounding Upstate have some of the most stunning landscapes in the state; we even have a river running through the heart of downtown.
○ We also have a pretty amazing arts + culture scene for a small town. The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, located in the North Main area of our downtown, is the only children’s museum in the US that claims the honor of being a Smithsonian affiliate. Right next door, the Greenville County Museum of Art is home to the largest public collection of watercolors by famed artist Andrew Wyeth.
Alright, let’s have a look around.
Downtown Greenville
Visit now: One activity that is quintessentially Greenville + also social distancing approved is hunting for the nine bronze mice that are hidden along Main Street. The Mice on Main were created in 2000 by high school senior Jim Ryan and have been a beloved Greenville favorite ever since. Click here for clues on where to find these little guys hidden around our downtown. Oh, and while you’re planning your trip, be sure to get inspired by these playful + creative coloring book pages from VisitGreenvilleSC.
Visit later: The Peace Center is a beautiful focal point of our downtown and home to the many Broadway shows that visit our city each year. Some highlights from the upcoming 2020-2021 season include: Hamilton, Wicked, + Hadestown.
Bonus: #DYK Greenville has been featured in multiple national publications + travel guides including People, The Washington Post, National Geographic Traveler, + The New York Times.
Swamp Rabbit Trail
Visit now: The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 22-mile multi-use greenway that many of us Greenvillians use for biking, walking or running + most parts are still open to the public right now. Oh, and The Greenville Zoo, which is located near the trail, has a 24/7 giraffe cam to tide you over until it reopens.
Bonus: Everything from Greenville’s hockey team to restaurants + breweries to a new aerial adventure park seems to be named after the Swamp Rabbit. Many of the other “Swamp Rabbits” you’ll find around our city are due to the popularity + proximity of the trail.
Visit later: Falls Park is truly (in our opinion) Greenville’s most iconic landmark + another place to be sure to visit on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. While it is currently closed to help stop the spread of COVID-19, the park is the perfect place to take pictures or enjoy a picnic lunch with a scenic view of the 345-foot Liberty Bridge spanning the thunderous Reedy River Falls. Some other noteworthy stops along the way that will hopefully be open soon include, the Cancer Survivors Park, Furman University (be sure to check out their bell tower on Swan Lake), and restaurants in the city of Travelers Rest.
Surrounding Natural Beauty
Visit now: Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, Greenville is close to many of South Carolina’s (and our northern neighbor’s) State Parks. Within a relatively short drive from downtown, you could be hiking at Table Rock State Park, Jones Gap State Park, Paris Mountain State Park, or Caesars Head State Park. Our parks recently reopened (with some restrictions) and can be a great way to get outside + maintain social distance. If you can’t wait to visit, check out this video about life in the creek at Paris Mountain State Park
Visit later: Located in Holland Park, along the new Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail expansion, The Flying Rabbit aims to be the Upstate’s newest destination for outdoor recreation, adventure + education. The arborist and developer is Jonathan Simmons – a local resident who has been involved with 30+ adventure courses across the U.S. In January 2020, Simmons submitted an application for special exception to the City of Greenville outlining his plans for the space. Hopefully, this new park will be ready by the time you come visit.
Festivals
Visit later: In our opinion, Greenville could also be called the “City of Festivals.” Between Artisphere, Fall for Greenville, The Greek Festival, Indie Craft Parade, TD Saturday Market, Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive, Greenville Heritage Federal Credit Union Main Street Fridays, and many more, there’s hardly a season where we don’t have a big festival going on.
Visit now: While most of our famous events have been postponed for the time being, you can browse the Instagram accounts of Upstate artists that will be participating in Artisphere here. Or tune in for a virtual concert with Sound Check on Thursday and Friday nights here. Or learn more about our local farmers and vendors who participate in the TD Saturday Market through Market Connect here.
Eatin’ in GVL
When it’s safe to visit, you’ll have plenty of delectable food options.
Grace’s personal favorites include Nose Dive, Cantina 76, Coastal Crust, GB&D, Barley’s, + White Duck Taco Shop.
Ana loves Swamp Rabbit Cafe, Methodical Coffee, Tupelo Honey, Restaurant 17, The Lazy Goat, + Tipsy Taco.
We’ve also got plenty of articles to help you navigate the local food scene.
○ You can’t miss these Greenville restaurants, like The Pita House, Asada, and Sushi Go.
○ We’ve also got endless brunch options + plenty of food trucks.
○ And if you’re gluten-free, we’ve got you covered there too. Check out this list of local restaurants with gluten-free options.
That brings us to the end of the tour. You didn’t think we could show you all of Greenville, did ya? Some things you just have to experience in person, like seeing a show at one of our local theatres or hiking at Paris Mountain State Park for a picnic + views.
If you still haven’t had enough of Greenville, check out the photo album we recently made + start daydreaming about what all you’ll do when you visit. Plus, be sure to stop by the VisitGreenvilleSC website for more virtual fun + inspiration for your next trip to G’Vegas. We can’t wait to see you. 👋
